1
as in ripping
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it
angrily tore the letter to shreds
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in yanking
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
tore the book from his hand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hurrying
to proceed or move quickly
she tore out of the room as soon as the phone started to ring
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tearing
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 1 Dec. 2025
Ben Kamisar, NBC news, 23 Apr. 2026
On the Sonora stage Sunday, the 22-year-old Newark rapper-producer who arrived at the current screaming catharsis via a circuit of molting SoundCloud-era microgenres was at once dangerously commanding and euphoric while tearing through highlights from last year’s Revengeseekerz.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2026
After several seasons of clean denim, Alves described breaks on the first layer of garments, exposing the underlying weave without fully tearing through.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 20 Apr. 2026
Green Bay sent its 2026 and 2027 first-round picks to the Dallas Cowboys last August as part of the package to acquire All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons, who had 12½ sacks in 14 games last season before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.
—Steve Megargee, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Switzer jumped back and turned to get away from him, but Semple pulled on the back of her shirt and grabbed at her race bib, tearing off the top corner.
—Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 19 Apr. 2026
These Bagsmart Clear Toiletry Bags keep everything visible and TSA-compliant, with a sturdy plastic construction that doesn’t feel flimsy or prone to tearing.
—Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2026
Even harder was tearing it down themselves, after living there for more than two decades.
—ABC News, 18 Apr. 2026
Captain, top-line center and three-time Selke Trophy winner Aleksander Barkov never played a game this season after tearing the ACL and MCL in his right knee less than an hour into his first training camp practice.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
By acting as a biomechanical bridge, soft enough for muscle, strong enough for rigid parts, the tendons eliminate the tearing and detachment problems that have plagued previous designs.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 1 Dec. 2025
Verb
Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy didn’t play at all last season after tearing his ACL, but after skipping the combine, was able to run during his pro day.
—Ben Kamisar, NBC news, 23 Apr. 2026
On the Sonora stage Sunday, the 22-year-old Newark rapper-producer who arrived at the current screaming catharsis via a circuit of molting SoundCloud-era microgenres was at once dangerously commanding and euphoric while tearing through highlights from last year’s Revengeseekerz.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2026
After several seasons of clean denim, Alves described breaks on the first layer of garments, exposing the underlying weave without fully tearing through.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 20 Apr. 2026
Green Bay sent its 2026 and 2027 first-round picks to the Dallas Cowboys last August as part of the package to acquire All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons, who had 12½ sacks in 14 games last season before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.
—Steve Megargee, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Switzer jumped back and turned to get away from him, but Semple pulled on the back of her shirt and grabbed at her race bib, tearing off the top corner.
—Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 19 Apr. 2026
These Bagsmart Clear Toiletry Bags keep everything visible and TSA-compliant, with a sturdy plastic construction that doesn’t feel flimsy or prone to tearing.
—Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2026
Even harder was tearing it down themselves, after living there for more than two decades.
—ABC News, 18 Apr. 2026
Captain, top-line center and three-time Selke Trophy winner Aleksander Barkov never played a game this season after tearing the ACL and MCL in his right knee less than an hour into his first training camp practice.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tearing
Verb
-
While at Hewlett High, he and a friend were kicked out for ripping a bong hit in the dean’s bathroom.—
Steve Bloom,
Rolling Stone,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Hunter consistently blows up running plays, ripping right through the interior of college offensive lines.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Supporters in labor unions and in the House soon began yanking their endorsements.—
Michelle Cottle,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra believed Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball should have been ejected after yanking on star center Bam Adebayo’s foot, causing an injury to his lower back.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
No point hurrying toward a resolution that was always receding.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Instead of hurrying to break up tents and scatter RVs, Lee and Oakland’s interim homelessness chief Sasha Hauswald want city workers to focus on minimizing trash and human waste around encampments.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
One spring day in Paris many years ago, my wife, Diana, a most penetrating photographer, capable of seeing like no one else, decided, as an experiment, to walk across the city blindfolded.—
Hisham Matar,
Harper's Magazine,
2 Aug. 2024
-
Since the war began in Gaza, more than six months ago, the Israeli magazine +972 has published some of the most penetrating reporting on the Israel Defense Forces’ conduct.—
Isaac Chotiner,
The New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2024
Verb
-
One person in a Gerrit Cole jersey threw a nasty right hook after grabbing someone from behind.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Former Mayor Bill de Blasio similarly drew ridicule when he was caught using a knife and fork to eat pizza instead of grabbing the slice with his hands like any real New Yorker paisano would.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The rider hung onto his upside-down watercraft for an hour, as speeding boats raced by.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Video uploaded to social media shows Peralta speeding through the neighborhood with an NYPD squad car in pursuit.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Much like the days getting longer and the air less biting, a sure harbinger that spring is coming is the 33rd annual West Suburban Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Naperville.—
Annie Alleman,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
-
As the nation bonded as one over the past two weeks biting nails, screaming at wins, wincing at crashes and choking up at all the beautiful moments of Olympic competition, another group of athletes were – and still are – out honing their multi-level championship skills.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
His friends can be seen rushing to him and carrying his body away.—
Zeena Saifi,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
-
And after spending all that money on Jaelan Phillips and picking two edge rushers in their first three picks in 2025, choosing another pass-rushing linebacker like Mesidor in the first round doesn’t make sense to me.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tearing. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
